New to hatching - Incubator Question

[Khelms829]

Set the incubator on top on an insulating surface, like an old sheet of packing foam or a folded bath towel to minimize heat loss, measure temps from the eggs‘ location..never wrap the incubator completely even during a power loss or you could deprive the eggs of oxygen. I guess I’m not seeing the problem, sorry if I’m not helping..

The incubator read digital read out says it’s perfect temp for hatching. The heating element is in the top of this particular incubator, with the sensors directly below it (so it’s at the top of the incubator). The egg turner has been removed and I placed the sensors for the temp and humidity directly on the grate I put the eggs on for lockdown it is almost 5 degrees cooler on the grate. I’m just trying to make sure this isn’t going to effect the hatching.

 

[Huntmaster]

Has your separate thermometer been calibrated to know its accurate?

 

[Khelms829]

Has your separate thermometer been calibrated to know its accurate?

Yes it was calibrated and I’ve also tested it by putting it directly beside the incubator’s sensors at the top of incubator and it matches perfectly with the digital readout

 

[Katanahamon]

The incubator read digital read out says it’s perfect temp for hatching. The heating element is in the top of this particular incubator, with the sensors directly below it (so it’s at the top of the incubator). The egg turner has been removed and I placed the sensors for the temp and humidity directly on the grate I put the eggs on for lockdown it is almost 5 degrees cooler on the grate. I’m just trying to make sure this isn’t going to effect the hatching.

Well, you should have a couple other thermometer/hygrometers and also calibrate the machine’s instruments, the others can be placed in other locations inside the incubator, that way you have confirmation of your readings. If your incubator has a fan, it shouldn’t be a huge disparity in temps, the optimal temp is .5 to 1 degree cooler and humidity should be 6 to 10% higher for hatching. During hatching you can restrict ventilation to raise humidity and prevent shell membranes from drying out, then when half have hatched increase ventilation and reduce temp by a degree to adjust for heat generated during hatching.

 

[Huntmaster]

I should have said I use calibrated thermometer at top edge of eggs. That's only way to know for sure where your temp really is.

 

[Huntmaster]

Yes it was calibrated and I’ve also tested it by putting it directly beside the incubator’s sensors at the top of incubator and it matches perfectly with the digital readout

Doesn't that incubator have temp probes that hang down on wire? One for temp and one for humidity?

 

[Khelms829]

Doesn't that incubator have temp probes that hang down on wire?

Yes but they don’t hang down very low so it’s reading the temperature from the top of incubator which would be right with the automatic egg turner in but when you remove that egg turner you place the eggs even lower in the incubator while the temp probes are still reading from the top of the incubator.

 

[Huntmaster]

I would trust your calibrated thermometer at top of egg level and adjust incubator to get temp your seeking on calibrated thermometer. That would be what I would do. Think of it like hen sitting on eggs her temp is at top of eggs but ground is not that temp.

 

[Khelms829]

I would trust your calibrated thermometer at top of egg level and adjust incubator to get temp your seeking on calibrated thermometer. That would be what I would do. Think of it like hen sitting on eggs her temp is at top of eggs but ground is not that temp.

Okay that makes more sense. Looking at this incubator and where the top of the egg is would make it a little warmer since it’s closer to the top where the sensors are but not quite up there. That does make sense that when an hen sits the temp on the bottom isn’t going to be as warm as on the top where her feathers are

 

[Khelms829]

I would trust your calibrated thermometer at top of egg level and adjust incubator to get temp your seeking on calibrated thermometer. That would be what I would do. Think of it like hen sitting on eggs her temp is at top of eggs but ground is not that temp.

I’m testing that with one of the eggs I gathered today, that I’m not hatching!! I’m going to give it a few minutes to let it settle and then see what the temp says